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Not a problem - Swiss law is very strict about wines and all wines coming into Switzerland (like all meats and produce) are tested - we don't DO EU standards - we set the bar way higher, and only allow imports under those rules, unless very specifically labelled or licensed. As for olive oil, I only use my sister in law's, and I KNOW the quality of it. Heck, half the time it is from a batch I shook from the trees myself. The incident you refer to was in Spain, and was a bad apple, as can happen even in Oz. One greedy bastard can ruin anything (of course, given the bulls**t that goes on in Spain, and is the reason for their economic collapse, I would hazard a guess that there are quite a few bad apples. Glad I don't live in an EU country).

As for Montepulciano wines, I think you have a screw loose (although I would never put anything past the Italians, if you get my drift) - I have on several occasions been privy to the "caving" of the wines there (there are these massive, cathedral like grottos in the hillside under the town) and have never witnessed any mucking about. My brother in law is part of the quality and testing council for the wines, honeys and oils of the region, and he has walked me through the procedures more than once. They are very proud of their produce in that part of Italy (they think they are better than any other region and produce nearly BIO (organic) quality, some actually do go for the label, even, including my brother in law, who's main clients are the Reformhauser (Natural food Stores) in Switzerland, and we practice very strict rules about what gets labelled Bio and what doesn't) and they are deeply aware of scandals that have hit their neighbouring Chianti region. Sure, some of the cheaper wines (abruzzo) are jacked up with extra sugar (and they even label it so), but the Nobile and Brunello are not. For these guys, it is a bit like a religion, and a pride. Won't say the same about the sausages though - got a bad case of ptomaine from some bad sausages in oil I bought from a street vendor in Chiusi a few years back. Of course, having them sit in the boot of my car in the hot sun probably didn't help either ;-))

Nice to quote a headline with no link. I hate to admit, I have never heard of either publication, but I do know, as I said someone on quality and testing council for their agroregion, and he has never mentioned any such thing to me (which does not mean it doesn't happen, just not with the region and vintners he is concerned with - these are all done by small region and cooperatives there).

As for sauerkraut - had some last night, with chicken sausages and baby potatoes - Mmmmmm Mmmmmm gooooooood.....

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